THE STUDY ON COMBINED DESALINATION

AND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM USING

SOLAR POND
Xiaolan Ge
l
, Rengshao Liu
2
, Zhanfang Jiao, Yuchun Zhao
The School of Mechanical Engineering , Jiangsu University
Zhenjiang, China
l.xlge@ujs.edu.cn, 2.haoyun.com@163.com
Abstract-A new combined desalination and power generation
system using solar pond was presented in this paper and the
principle of the new system was introduced. A new disc
convergent-divergent nozzle was desgined and used in the simple
reaction turbine. According to theoretical analysis of the
thermodynamics process, the power production and fresh water
rate were obtained at tapical parameters. To prove the feasibility
of the principle a small experimental rig was set. Afer simple
experiment it is found that the actual fresh water rate is a little
higher than the theoretical value, but the actual power is too
much lower, which means that the hot brine couldn't expanded
insufciently in the nozzle and the fow passage of nozzle needs to
be improved farther to increase the power production.Also the
other infuencing factors should be considered such as the
condenser effciency, drag losses,chamber pressure and etc.
Keywords-solar pond; two-phase fow; disc convergent
divergent nozzle; desalnation; isentropic expansion
I. INTRODUCTION
It is known that the world is now facing three serious
problems: fresh water shortage, energy crisis and degradation
of soil. Although the people has invented the desalination
technology to solve the water crisis, the traditional methods
consume huge of electricity energy produced by fossil fel
Therefore,settling water shortage in tum boosts carbon emissions that
fuel the climate change which frther deepens the environmental
crisis. So, fnding solutions which are sustainable and
environment kind is the main task for us at present.
As a new cleanish and ample energy, the solor energy is more
appealing than others. The paper will present a novel system
powered entirely by solar energy to produce both fresh water
and electrical power from saline groundwater or seawater. It is
called the CDP system which stands for Combined
Desalination and Power Generation. Historically, most
previous work on desalination powered by sustainable energy
has focussed on solar thermal collectors (parabolic solar
collector) coupled to multistage fash or multiple effect
evaporation systems with temperature higher than 300

C to
obtain high efciency in power generation [1]. A number of
workers in Israel have investigated combined desalination and
power production using solar thermal collectors to produce
water vapour from hot brine and then passing the vapour
through an expander to produce power and in tum fresh water
as the vapour is cooled and condensed, but as for the low
temperature resource through non-parabolic solar collector,
978-1-61284-752-8/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE
119
there is still lack of useful information, especially combined
with reaction turbine [2].
The other problems in combined desalination and power
generation concept to be highlighted are the applicability of
the Hero Turbine for energy conversion from low quality, two
phase inlet fuids. Although the Hero' turbine was investigated
extensively during 1973 to 1980 afer the Middle East oil
crisis, especially by Laurence Livermore Laboratory and Jet
Propulsion Laboratory in USA, most research work was
focused on geothermal application because there is enough
geothermal resource in American and relatively it is high
quality energy due to higher temperature and pressure
comparing to energy from the solar pond and solar collector
[3-4]. It isn't so easy to fnd the same system using low
temperature and pressure solar energy at present.
In this paper, the idea of combined desalination and power
generation was conformed by use of low temperature heat
source coming from soalr pond in this system. The system
needn't to produce high temperature and pressure vapor to run
the reaction turbine. So it decreases the running cost of the
whole device. Furthermore low temperature industrial waste
water can be employed as the work fuid in the system.lf this
technique can be applied in practice,it is a good choice to
solve the energy crisis and water shortage simultaneously.
II. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMBINED DESALINATION
AND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
In the CDP system, the tasks of fresh water production and
power generation are performed using solar energy with zero
greenhouse gas emissions. The principle of the CDP system is
relatively simple and the principle schematic of system is
shown in Fig.l.
Before running the system, the air of vacuum chamber is
drew off by the vacuum pump or the ejector and the chamber
is maintained to be a constant low pressure state. The low
temperature brine is heated to be a scope of 5080C through
a heat exchanger in solar pond. Then the hot brine is sucked
into a disc covergent-divergent nozzle through a hollow shaf
in the reaction turbine. As a result of the difference between
atmospheric pressure outside and that in of the vacuum
chamber, the hot brine in the nozzle will expand and vaporize
into a mixture of water droplets and vapor. The vapor rises in
the chamber and is condensed into fresh water by the
condenser at the top through which a stream of cooling water
continually fows. At the same time, the mixture exiting the
nozzle at high velocity will exert a couple of reaction forces
on the nozzle. The reaction forces can create a torque that
makes the hollow shaf tur and then the reaction turbine will
drive the generator rotating at high velocity and the fnction
of power generation is realized. At last, the collected fresh
water by container and the residual concentrated brine are
pumped out of the chamber respectively. The simple reaction
turbine and the disc nozzle are shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3
respectively.
Cool w tr ie t
-
Col wtr outlet t: <:
---
Vauu cher
t ttl t
t l
V ar
coru-
6
Sol Pn
l=
6
_11 -I
Brie t Fres w tr
t
Figure 1. Schematic showing the principle of the CDP system
Figure 2. The real reaction turbine
Figure 3. The disc convergent-divergent
Supported by the Foundation of Jiangsu University (No.09JDG069)
120
III. THE HEAT SUPPLY SYSTEM
The focus of design for the CDP system is that the system
is entirely based on solar thermal energy, with particular
emphasis on low temperature heat resources. Solar pond is a
salty water pond with concentration gradient. Its simple
structure, easy maintenance and low cost are very suitable for
large-scale using [5]. For the common desalination and
distillation device, the work fuid temperature is about 40-50
C. The multiple-effect evaporation system can also work well
in the temperature scope of 70-80 C and the solar pond can
absolutely satisfy the operating requirment. Therefore,
choosing solar pond as the heat supply source is a good
consideration for the CDP system. For no-convection type of
solar pond, the up convection zoon is fll of clean water and
the temperature of water is approximate to ambient
temperature. So the clean water can be the work fuid in the
condenser, which is a important reason to choose solar pond.
IV. THE SIMPLE REACTION TURBINE AND
CONVERGENT- DIVERGENT NOZZLE
The reaction turbine is the main part in the system and it
can make the heat from the fuid transform into the
mechanical energy. In fact, the turbine in the CDP system can
be called a reaction two-phase turbine and realizes the
fnction of synchronal desalination and power generation by
means of the expansion and evaporation of hot brine in the
convergent-divergent nozzle.
The most important part in reaction turbine is the
convergent-divergent nozzle. It not only affects the recovery
rate of fesh water, but also infuences the power generation.
Though the research on the internal fow characteristics in
nozzle for the single-phase gas has been relative mature, the
properties of the two-phase fuid through the nozzle have not
been studied thoroughly. In the last 50 years, there have been
numerous models proposed for calculation of the critical fow
rate of a two-phase one-component fow [6]. Some models
have no theoretical support and are based solely on semi
empirical formulae [7]. The difculty in theoretical treatments
is that the fashing process is very complicated. The traditional
mass, momentum and energy conservation equations are more
complex, since they must include terms relating to the
interaction between the two phases, fuid and gas properties,
and the friction of the wall of the nozzle [8].
Therefore, the design for two-phase nozzle has to be based
on the present two-phase theory and repeated experiments. To
reduce the energy loss coming from the shock wave when the
hot brine expanding in the divergent part of the nozzle and
improve the power production, a new disc convergent
divergent nozzle is used in the experiment and its dimension
of divergent part is much longer common Laval nozzle, which
may make the hot brine expansion more sufcient.
V. THE THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE
COMBINED DESALINATION AND POWER SYSTEM
A. The possibly suitable two-phase flow model in the system
Choosing the suitable two-phase model is vital before
analyzing the theoretical process for theCDP system. The
model choosed must be convenient to simplify the whole
analysis process and the caculation of typical parameters for
the critical fow in the throat of nozzle. Basically, the
theoretical modeling of two-phase fow can be divided into
two main categories: Theories that assume thermodynamic
equilibrium throughout the expansions, which can be further
subdivided into homogeneous theories in which the vapor is
assumed to be mixed with liquid homogeneously and there is
enough time for the two phase transfer in mass, momentum
and energy; and non-homogeneous theories in which the two
phases exist separately and non-equilibrium theories [9-10].
The other category comprises non-equilibrium theories.
In the present work homogeneous theories based on
thermodynamic equilibrium are adopted because this model is
relatively simple while it can still provide an accurate and
satisfactory predictions in the application of simple Hero's
turbine with steam pressure of 242.3 kPa, for the pressure
lower than 101.3 kPa, Henry claimed that it should be
applicable but no test was reported. Many practical
applications have used it as the basic model, for example, in
calculations relating to the water cooling systems of nuclear
power plants[ll-13].
The Isentropic-Homogenous Expansion(IHE) Model is
based on the following assumptions:
1) The velocities of the two phase are equal.
2) Thermal equilibrium exists.
3) The expansion in the nozzle is isentropic.
4) Data on the thermodynamic properties correspond to
those of a static , equilibrium, two-phase system with plane
interface[14].
B. The theoretical analysis based on the THE model for an
isenttropic process in the reaction turbine.
Theoretical analysis of the CDP system will stem from
the assumption of isentropic expansion of the nozzle in this
section. The performance of the whole system considering
mechanical efciency, generator efciency and drag force
acting on the surface of nozzle will be investigated in the test.
Setting the typical parameters:
The brine mass rate ms =O.lkg/s.
The cool brine temperature t
6
=25 C .
The hot brine temperature afer being heated t
I
=75 C .
The vacuum chamber pressure Pc =3 .17kPa.
The vacuum chamber temperature (maintained by the
condenser and is equal to the cooling temperature in
theory) tc =25 C.
The ambient temperature is 25C.
The physical quantities in different position points can be
seen in Table I. The thermodynamic cycle can be analyzed as
follows referring to the Fig.l and the temperature-entropy graph
of thermodynamic cycle in CDP system(shown in FigA ).
121
TABLE 1. THE PHYSICAL QUANTITIES IN DIFFERENT POSITION
POINTS
Points Pressure
P (kPa)
I 101.33
2 -----
3 38.58
4 3.17
5 3.17
6 101.33
Physical Quantities
Temperature Entropy
tCC) s(kJ/(kg K))
75 1.0155
75 1.0155
75 1.0155
25 1.0155
25 0.3674
25 0.3675
L i pe Lii- < P be
Enthalpy
h (kJ/kg)
313.93
313.93
313.93
298.15
104.89
104.915
7YC lOl.3ka
7YC 38.5P
Isenp epln
4 -- - - -- - - -fc Ta
En [l(k K)]
Dryness
x
0
0
0
0.0791
0
0
Figure 4. The Temperature-Entropy graph of thermodynamic cycle
Process 6-1: The cold brine is heated by the solar pond
from 25Ct075C and this process can be treated as constant
pressure heating. The state of hot brine is in unsaturation. The
heat needed is the difference of the enthalpy between points 6
and 1.
Q=S(hl -h6)
=0.1 X (313.93 -104.89)=20.904kW
Process 1-2: The hot brine is drawn into the hollow shaf
in the turbine for the pressure difference and fows to the inlet
of the disc nozzle (point 2). The calculated formula of pressure
in point 2 for rotating homogeneous fuid is introduced here:
1
P
2
=Pl+-pr
2
w
2
(2)
2
Here, p- the density of hot brine (kg/m
3
), r - the distance
between the rotor centre and inlet of nozzle (m), O - the
angular velocity of the disc nozzle(rad/s).
According to Formula (2), it is seen that the hot brine
pressure of nozzle inlet will rise as a result of the high
rotational speed, but the entropy of hot brine keeps constant.
Process2-3: The sub-cooled brine goes through the
convergent part of the nozzles, and accelerates, decreasing in
pressure to that corresponding to the local saturated
temperature of the input solution (assumed to be 75C) . The
hot brine at throat of nozzle (point 3) turns into saturated state
here. Actually, the local saturation temperature in the vacuum
chamber is a little higher than the theoretical assumption (25
C), which is relation to the cooling ability of the condenser.
In the test, this temperature was 2-4 C above 25C.
Process 3-4: Saturated brine begins to vaporize after the
throat and continues to vaporize and to be accelerated as it
travels through the divergent part of the nozzle. At last the
mixture of brine and vapor ejecting at high speed from the
outlet of nozzle (point 4). The process can be treated as an
isentropic process if the energy losses due to the inefciency
of the nozzles and bearings, and the reaction of the mixture of
vapor and droplets with the surrounding enyironment in the
chamb

r are neglected. The process3-4 is the actual

expanSIOn.
From TableI, it is seen that the enthalpy of brine has
decreased in the process from point 1 to point 4. If the hot
brine keeps isentropic expansion in the nozzle, the reduced
enthalpy should transform into the mechanical energy of
mixture we need. If all the mechanical energy can drive the
generator to produce power, the maximal power generation in
theory can be obtained by the following formula:
p = S(hl - h4)
(3)
=0.1 x (313.93-298.15) =1.578kW
Therefore the gross efciency of power generation is got :
r p = P /
Q
X 100%
=1.578120.904 =7.55%
(4)
According to Table I, it also can be seen that the dryness in
outlet of nozzle is 0.0791, which means that the mass
percentage of vapor is 7.91 % in mixture. So the maximal fresh
water production is obtained:
m=ms,x4
(5)
=0.1 xO.0791 =0.00791kg/s
Process4-5: The vapor is condensed by the condenser, and
then collected in the tray and stored in the fresh water tank.
The remaining droplets of liquid fow into the brine tank. The
heat taken out by the condenser is the difference in the
enthalpy between points 4 and 5.
Q
c
(6)
=0.1x (298.15-104.89) = 19.326kW
Process5-6: The fresh water collected and remaining brine
are pumped out of the tanks respectively. The mechanical
energy required for this pumping is the difference of enthalpy
between points 5 and 6.
M=qm(h6 -hJ
(7)
=O.l x(104.915-104.89)=0.0025 kW
At the same hot brine mass rate(O.lkg/s), the fresh water
production and power generation in theory can be obtained
under the condition of different cooling temperature and hot
brine temperature, as is shown in Table II. It is found that the
fresh water production and power generation increase with the
decrease of cooling temperature and increase of hot brine
temperature. Therefore, the condenser is very important for
the combined system to keep contant low temperature state.
122
TABLE II. THE FRESH WATER PRODUCTION AND POWER
PRODUCTION IN THEORY
The Hot Brine Temperature eC)
Cooling
75 85
Temperature
Fresh water Power Fresh water
eC) production production production
(kg/h) (kW) (kg/h)
25 28.476 1.578 33.696
27.5 27.252 1.401 32.544
30 25.992 1.270 31.230
32.5 24.696 1.131 30.096
35 23.4 1.001 28.836
VI THE EXPERIMENT AND ANALYSIS
Power
production
(kW)
2.233
2.046
1.865
1.696
1.536
In order to prove the feasibility of the new principle for
CDP system, a small simple rig was set and is shown in Fig 5.
In the test, the solar pond was replaced by the electricity to
heat the cold brine. The condenser was composed of 26m long
and diameter of 16m copper tube. The rotor of reaction
turbine was connected to a 90W DC generator for power
producing. The chamber pressure was kept at 4.25kPa
corresponding to the temperature of 30C by running cooling
water fowing in condenser. The inner diameter of hollow
shaf in turbine was 14mm. The mass rate of brine was kept at
O.lkg/s.
Figure 5. The small simple rig in test
Through repeated testes covering a temperature range of
40 to 80C. The feasibility of the CDP concept was confrmed
successfully and the useful results on the production of fresh
water and power generation above the tests was shown in Fig
6 and Fig 7.
It is can be seen from the above two fgures, the
percentage of fresh water in the tests varies linearly with the
increasing temperature of hot brine as expected, and in some
instances higher than that predicted in theory. While the power
produced in tests is much less than that of theoretical
prediction, though the actual power generation increases with
the increasing of hot brine temperature as predicated.
|
11. The teoretc;fresh w llernte
I

Z
;. Theclfresh wter rlle
/

'y
0/
//
l
O
Hot bre pente CC)
Figure 6. The recovery rates for fresh water compared with the theoretical
prediction
ZJ
:
C
I
:
.s
+
=
:
D
l

|J
_
t:

~ t:

L
_ . +

'
.
J
2,*:;

1
=--/
+ O 1
Hot bme tempe nte CC)
O
Z
Z
Z4
Zi
Z

Figure 7. The actual power generation compared with the theoretical

prediction

s
*

Many reasons result to the low power generation, but the

main reason lies in that the insufcient expansion of hot brine
in the nozzle casues the shock wave and then leads to low
effciency of the nozzle. In other words it is reasoned that most
of the phase change between vapor and liquid and the resulting
expansion takes place outside of the disc nozzle, so the desired
momentum isn't transferred to the rotor of turbine and causes
lots of mechanical energy losses in the process 3-4.
In fact the successful design of nozzle should make sure
that the nozzle always work at critical mass fow at throat and
there is no any shock wave in or outside the nozzle ,that means
the pressure at exit plane at the end of the nozzle should be
equal to the chamber pressure exactly, so there is no any over
expansion or under expansion happening. But there is no
reliable method to design the two phase nozzle. So in order to
utmostly increase the power generation, the dimensions of
nozzle need to be improved frther. Of course ,the other
infuencing factors should be considered such as the condenser
efciency, drag losses,chamber pressure and will not be
introduced detailedly as a result of the pages limit.
123
VII. CONCLUSIONS AND FURTURE WORKS
In the paper, the new concept of combined desalination
and power generation has been proved to be feasible, and that it
may help solve the challenges of water shortage and salination
currently encountered in many arid areas. According to a
number of tests, it is found that the fresh water production is
approximate to that of theoretical prediction, but the power
generation is much lower compared with predicated value.
Therefore further work in future that needs to be
conducted includes:
1 The fow passage of nozzle needed to be improved
farther to increase the power production.
2) The new condenser need be designed to improve the
cooling efciency.
) The actual solar pond should be constructed as the heat
supply resource.
4) The economical analysis about the system should be
done compared with other combined systems.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to take this opportunity to thank
the fnancial support by Mechanical Engineering School of
Jiangsu University. Also, we would like to give our thanks to
Mechatronics plant in Jiangsu University who helped us to
construct the small experimental rig .
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